I chased after Lucien all the way to the balcony.
The cold night air hit my skin the moment I stepped outside.
He stood near the edge, his back turned to me.
His fists were clenched tightly at his sides, so tightly I could see the tension in his arms even from where I stood.
“Lucien, ” I called softly.
He didn’t turn immediately.
Then suddenly, he did.
His eyes met mine, sharp, unsettled.
And before I could take another step, he spoke.
“Why do you always do this?”
His voice was low.
Controlled.
But something underneath it was broken.
“Why do you always reject me… and treat me like I’m nothing but a puppet you can move however you want?”
I froze.
That wasn’t what I expected.
Not at all.
For a moment, I didn’t know what to say.
Because the way he said it didn’t feel like anger.
It felt like pain.
And then something clicked in my mind.
Lucien…
I remembered him.
Or rather, I remembered what I had written about him.
He was never truly loved.
Not really.
He was used.
Feared.
Rejected.
Even when he stood at the top of power, no one ever looked at him like he mattered.
My chest tightened slightly as the realization settled in.
So this was what he carried all this time.
I stared at him, my voice suddenly quieter.
“Lucien.”
I stretched out my hand toward him.
“I’m sorry.”
For a moment, everything went still.
It felt like even the wind had stopped moving.
Lucien didn’t respond immediately.
He just stood there, silent, unreadable.
Then, without thinking, I stepped forward and hugged him from behind.
My arms wrapped around him tightly.
He didn’t move away.
He didn’t speak either.
Just silence.
Then slowly, I felt his hand cover mine.
Holding it gently, but firmly.
As if he was afraid I might disappear if he let go.
“It’s late,” he finally said, his voice softer now.
“You should get some rest.”
A pause.
“Tomorrow is a big day.”
The next morning came too quickly.
The palace was already alive with movement.
It was time for the first trial.
My maids entered my room early, surrounding me as they prepared my outfit.
The air felt tense, but also expectant.
As they dressed me, one of them suddenly smiled at me.
“You’re lucky, Your Highness.”
I looked at her through the mirror.
“Lucky?
Why?”
She adjusted the fabric of my dress gently.
“Because you have five servants who are loyal to you,” she said.
“Five who care for you and who would tear apart the world for your sake.”
I paused slightly at her words.
Then I gave a small, uncertain smile.
She continued, almost softly now.
“People like us, we are not as fortunate, Your Highness.”
I looked at her more carefully now.
Her eyes lowered slightly.
“Only the wealthy, only royals, can obtain mystical beings from another world as servants.”
My breath slowed a little.
Mystical beings,
So that’s what they were seen as here.
She continued, her voice quieter.
“Sometimes I wish everyone could have power like that.”
A pause.
“But it’s not possible.”
Her fingers tightened slightly around the ribbon she was holding.
“Because if everyone had power like that then we would all become creatures of shadow.”
Her gaze lifted slightly.
“Creatures who have to live in the dark just to survive.”
Silence filled the room after her words.
And for the first time,
I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to feel grateful,
Or afraid.
We stepped out into the palace halls shortly after.
Whispers followed instantly.
“Is that Seraphina Ravencroft”.
“The dark princess”.
“She really brought all five of them”,
I didn’t react.
I just kept walking.
But my mind wasn’t calm.
Creatures of shadow.
Mystical beings from another world.
Servants chosen only by the wealthy.
Feared by everyone else.
So that’s what they were.
Not just knights.
Not just mages.
Something more.
Something bound.
When we entered the trial hall, the entire space went silent.
A massive arena stood at the center, surrounded by nobles seated high above.
At the very top sat the Queen Mother, watching.
Beside her,
Aurora Bellrose.
She looked calm.
Too calm.
Her eyes briefly met mine.
Then she smiled.
Not warmly.
Not kindly.
But like she knew something I didn’t.
My stomach tightened slightly.
That was new.
That was definitely not in my story.
A royal guard stepped forward.
“First trial: evaluation of command authority.”
Murmurs spread instantly through the hall.
“All royal candidates will demonstrate control over their contracted forces.”
My breath paused slightly.
Contracted forces,
So that’s what they were called here.
My gaze shifted to my five men behind me.
Kael tilted his head slightly.
Sylas was already observing everything silently.
Lucien remained expressionless.
But I could feel it.
All of them were waiting for my command.
The guard continued.
“Those without contracted beings will be disqualified immediately.”
A low gasp moved through the crowd.
A noble woman whispered nearby:
“Only those chosen by shadow contracts can participate”,
Another voice replied:
“That means only monsters and royals can fight here”.
My fingers slowly tightened.
So that’s why people feared them.
Not because they were powerful.
But because they were different.
Not human enough.
Not ordinary enough.
Creatures of shadow.
A sharp sound echoed across the hall.
A test opponent stepped into the arena.
And the trial began.
But something felt wrong immediately.
Because the moment the opponent appeared.
All five of my servants reacted at the same time.
Not like guards.
Not like knights.
Like instincts.
Like beasts recognizing prey.
Lucien stepped forward slightly.
“Something is wrong,” he said quietly.
Sylas narrowed his eyes.
Kael’s hand twitched.
Adrian growled under his breath.
Cassian’s gaze sharpened.
All five of them were focused on the same point.
Not the opponent.
But the Queen Mother.
My breath caught.
“What do you mean something is wrong?”
Lucien didn’t answer immediately.
Then he said something that made my entire body go cold.
“This trial”,
“It was not meant to begin yet.”
Silence fell.
Then Sylas spoke softly behind me.
“And none of us were supposed to be activated today.”
My breath caught.
Kael’s voice followed next.
“Someone forced the contract seal open.”
The hall suddenly felt too quiet.
Too still.
And then,
For the first time since I arrived in this world,
I realized something terrifying.
This trial wasn’t just an evaluation.
It was a trigger.
And someone had deliberately activated all five of them at once.
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